Marker for gastric cancer and method for detecting gastric cancer

Abstract

In embodiments the expression or methylation of the PAX5 gene is used as a marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of gastric cancer. In further embodiments methods for detecting gastric cancer are disclosed as are methods for inhibiting the growth of gastric cancer.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A method for detecting DNA methylation, comprising the step of:
 determining, in a gastric mucosa sample taken from a patient, methylation level of a target DNA sequence that is (1) SEQ ID NO:27; or (2) a segment of SEQ ID NO:27 comprising at least 50 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:27 and comprising a plurality of CpG base pairs. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said determining comprises treating the sample with a reagent that differentially modifies methylated and unmethylated DNA. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the target DNA sequence is a segment of at least 50 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:26. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1  wherein said determining comprises treating the sample with sodium bisulfite. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the determining is performed by COBRA, BGS, or MSP. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1  wherein said determining comprises DNA amplification. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the reagent comprises an enzyme that preferentially cleaves unmethylated DNA. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said DNA amplification comprises polymerase chain reaction. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1  wherein said detecting uses a primer or probe selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 22. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target DNA sequence is SEQ ID NO:26. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target DNA sequence is SEQ ID NO:27.